Lost rant
Okay, Wombat and I are Lost fans and there have been some theories running round. For those that know the show the characters have captured a fellow that they think belongs to group of people, referred to as Others, who are the source of menace and conflict on the island.
He claimed that he was going round the world in a balloon and crashed. He was prompted to draw a map to where his balloon crashed as a source of either proving he is not an Other.
Now there has long been a belief among the views of the show that the Others have been supplied from outside. The belief has grown that perhaps they are being supplied by balloon--and that Henry (the captured fellow) gave the location of one of these crashed ones as a way to establish his credentials. Below I have a rant about that--especially since this would be tons of supplies (don't kid yourself even if there are only 30 some Others they can easily run up tons of food and replacement machinery requirements in a couple of months)
I don't buy balloon resupply because it is inefficient in the extreme:
1. Balloons are at the mercy of the wind and inaccurate. History has recorded multiple attempts to use long range balloons as weapons and photo-recon platforms. The most famous of there are the Japanese fire balloons in WW II and the US Skyhook balloons during the 50's. Both had to go up to extreme altitudes to use the jet-streams to hit the continents they were aimed at, and even then as you know from the weather, jet-streams do alter.
In the end balloons are not accurate enough for reliable supply delivery.
2. Balloons can't carry much cargo. Okay this one is rather complex, but it has to go with lift, balloon size, and weight. Anyway hot air is a very in-efficient lift gas. This is why the round the world balloons tend to use helium in combination with a burner to reach their altitudes and also to carry what they need. In short a balloon doesn't have much free lift. To get free lift (cargo capacity) you need to increase the size (hence why dirigibles and zeppelins are so large. As anyone can tell you a large balloon is noticeable.
So again not best for resupply.
So how are the Others getting resupply (and I'm sure they are). Well the easiest is boats. It wouldn't take a large one to bring in a couple of tons of supplies. Something like a large yacht would do it. Even a very small freighter. Small enough that people wouldn't notice them in a port or out on the sea.
If you crave an exotic method of delivery then there are always submarines. In WW II the Germans had a sub called the "Milch Cow" follow the link if you want to know more. Specs on German subs
Anyway new diesel electric boats are being built on spec by German companies in Bremen. Also the sub can carry the tons of supplies and be nearly impossible to track.
So there you have it. Balloons out (unless my beloved zeppelins are in use and frankly they are too bloody big to sneak about) for supply and a boat or sub is in.
Anyway I can't wait for the Lost episode tonight. I'm sure it will answer some questions.
He claimed that he was going round the world in a balloon and crashed. He was prompted to draw a map to where his balloon crashed as a source of either proving he is not an Other.
Now there has long been a belief among the views of the show that the Others have been supplied from outside. The belief has grown that perhaps they are being supplied by balloon--and that Henry (the captured fellow) gave the location of one of these crashed ones as a way to establish his credentials. Below I have a rant about that--especially since this would be tons of supplies (don't kid yourself even if there are only 30 some Others they can easily run up tons of food and replacement machinery requirements in a couple of months)
I don't buy balloon resupply because it is inefficient in the extreme:
1. Balloons are at the mercy of the wind and inaccurate. History has recorded multiple attempts to use long range balloons as weapons and photo-recon platforms. The most famous of there are the Japanese fire balloons in WW II and the US Skyhook balloons during the 50's. Both had to go up to extreme altitudes to use the jet-streams to hit the continents they were aimed at, and even then as you know from the weather, jet-streams do alter.
In the end balloons are not accurate enough for reliable supply delivery.
2. Balloons can't carry much cargo. Okay this one is rather complex, but it has to go with lift, balloon size, and weight. Anyway hot air is a very in-efficient lift gas. This is why the round the world balloons tend to use helium in combination with a burner to reach their altitudes and also to carry what they need. In short a balloon doesn't have much free lift. To get free lift (cargo capacity) you need to increase the size (hence why dirigibles and zeppelins are so large. As anyone can tell you a large balloon is noticeable.
So again not best for resupply.
So how are the Others getting resupply (and I'm sure they are). Well the easiest is boats. It wouldn't take a large one to bring in a couple of tons of supplies. Something like a large yacht would do it. Even a very small freighter. Small enough that people wouldn't notice them in a port or out on the sea.
If you crave an exotic method of delivery then there are always submarines. In WW II the Germans had a sub called the "Milch Cow" follow the link if you want to know more. Specs on German subs
Anyway new diesel electric boats are being built on spec by German companies in Bremen. Also the sub can carry the tons of supplies and be nearly impossible to track.
So there you have it. Balloons out (unless my beloved zeppelins are in use and frankly they are too bloody big to sneak about) for supply and a boat or sub is in.
Anyway I can't wait for the Lost episode tonight. I'm sure it will answer some questions.